Cotton-picking apparatus



Aug. l5, 1950 c. R. HAGEN ETAL 2,518,465

COTTON PICKING APPARATUS Filed June 29, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 NWN Aug. l5, 1950 c. R. HAGEN ETAL coTToN PICKING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 29, 1944 WNW f m w www5 o n M imm@ ZJ fw@ \mv\hl @WN \%%N -o E i" N www mm@ Mm i-' MSW \\mvm\ W`Q\..\\ WNW] lWmWNH l NDW Mwm .WN I -IWWWMWB ETWQN .Nmmw Mmm \Mmh\ .,WBW TQM @h C. R. HAGEN ETAL COTTON PICKING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Aug. 15, 195o Filed June 29, 1944 A115 l5 1950 c R. HAGEN ETAL 2,518,465

coT'roN PIcxING APPARATUS Filed June 29, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 A112 `15, 1950 l c R. HAGEN ET AL 2,518,465

COTTON PICKING APPARATUS of@ lozza's Wick/h,

@y @Lui CD @gyra/LQ.

Patented Aug. 15, 1950 UNITED STATE-.S

PATENT orrlos Claims.

`This `invention `relates to .cotton-picking apparatus and has to do more particularly with a novel arrangement .of such Aapparatus providing for installation of its component parts in certain advantageous 4positions upon a tractor.

The .invention Ais primarily useful in the assembly ofla picker unit ofthe spindle type and of a receptacle for `the picked cotton upon a relatively small tractor. Picker units employing banks of rotating..spindles embody a concentrationof considerable mass making it highly desirable for the` apparatus to distribute its vweight upon those `.parts of the tractor most capable of withstanding the weight. One object of the invention Vis to Y.provide an apparatus which satisfactorily meets the weight distributionprblem by placing the picker unit forwardly "of one of the rear axle housingsadjacently to the tractor engine and by placing the receptacle for 'picked cotton upon the tractor rearwardly ofthe other rear axle housing. This causes .most of the weight to be imposed upon the rugged traction wheels, meanwhile minimizing 'additional weight on'the ground-engaging steering wheels 'so steering ease vis preserved.

The 4problem of weight distribution is coinplicated by the desirability of disposing" the neces` sarily'bulky cotton receptacle where it will avoid interferencewith vision of the operator. `Another object of the invention is the'provision of a suitable mounting for the receptacleprincipally rearwardly of the operatorsstation and to one side thereof in such a fashion that the operator can readily see tosteer the vehicle in a forward directionby using the standard tractor controls and still obtain good weight distribution of the apparatus. 1

Another Yobject is the provision of `a novel arrangement ior conveying cotton from the picker unit Jover the axle housing rearwardly thereof and thence Vtransversely oi' the tractor to the receptacle to avoid interference with plant row vision of the operator and to avoid striking the cotton plants with Ythe conveyor. Another object is the provision o'f an arrangenient as 4the above with the picking unit at a side `of `the tractor `engine and-a driving mechanism thereforfextending from a rear power-takeoff shaft and 'forwardly over the axle housing to said unit. Y i

A further object `is the provision 'of a `novel" mounting of cotton-picking apparatus upon a tractor, wherein the picker' unit is disposed alongside of the engine forwardly of an operators stationadjacently to a rear axle'housing at the same 2 side of the engine to improve the operators vision of the plant ro'w being harvested.

A further ubj'et is 'th D'VSD `in"attnpicking apparatus including a cotton receptacle on a rear portion of the tractor and a .picking unit `o'n apart of the tractor spaced therefrom; cfa novelpneumatic system for conveying the cotton from the picking unit to the receptacle including a blower below thereceptaclevior ;pro

` pelling the cotton entering the same .fromthe picking unitand changing the flow ofthe cotton to an upwardly direction to the receptacle.

The above andother desirableobjects inherent in and encompassed bythe invention `willbe better understoodupon'reading the ensuing description with .reference to the annexed drawings, wherein:

Fig.` 1 is a side elevational View of `a tractor with the preferred embodiment ofthe invention installed thereon, `the `nearest traction wheel of the tractor being `omittedand a top portionof a cotton `receptacle `of the cotton picking apparatus being broken away;

Fig. 2 is-a plan view of the tractor andiap# paratus shown in lFig. l, the tractor steering wheel being omitted and a portion of the tractor fuel tank being brokenaway;

Fig. 2a is a v'erti'cal sectional View taken throughthe `plant passage ofthe picking unit 'as indicated by the line Zaiin Fig. 2.

Fig. A3 is a plan view `of a cotton conveying' blower einployedin the apparatus and installed bl'ow the `cotton receptacle as illustrated .in Figs. 1,4, and 5i 4 is arear elevational fvie'ivof the tractor (-Witli parts ointted 'for clarity) `"and apparatus; with the rceptacle kinthe filling position;

Fig. v5 isa fragmentary rear `eliii/armadi view corresponding to Fig. 4 but illustrating the r= ceptacle in `the dumping'k position;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the blower at the plane indicated by tlliliie 76 in Fig. 7; l

Fig. isa vertical sectional view taken through tlieblower' on the line indicated by the line 1-7 in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view illustratingwa peripheral edge of the blower rotor and a radially slotted guard therefor, 'taken on the line Sli!! of Fig. '7;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan view `of `the rear end ofthe tractor, 'showing the differential h "sing and'adiacent parts of the rear axle housing together `with a casing Awhich-l encloses selectable driving chains for transmitting driving force to the cotton-picking unit; and

Fig. 10 is a view taken on the line I0 of Fig. 9 illustrating a clutch utilizable for selecting which of the chains illustrated in Fig. 9 shall be employed for transmitting the driving force to the picking unit.

General statement Since the present invention has to do with the general arrangement of the various components of the apparatus, all of those components are herein shown and described to illustrate their as- Sembly with an ordinary farm tractor. The tractor and the crop harvesting apparatus thereon constitute a self-propelled crop harvesting machine. Y

' The tractor The tractor upon'which the apparatus is herein assembled is a narrow bodied tricycle type farm tractor comprising a body l projecting forwardly from voppositely extending rear axle housings l l and I2. At the front portion of the body I0 is the conventionally placed internal combustion f engine 13 superposed by a fuel tank l 4 and a hood |57.` A shaft I6 at the front of the tractor is an extension of the Yengine crank shaft. Support for the frontend `of the tractor is provided by the usual steering truck I1 comprising a groundfengagingsteering wheel'l. Support for the rear end of Ythe tractor `is provided by rear traction .wheels I9 and 2l at the outer ends of the axle housings y, Il and l2. Depending gear containingportions 22 and 23 at the outer ends of the aXleh-ousings l'l and I2Ycontain gears (not shown) which transmit driving force from aXles Within the housings I l and l2 to the wheels I9 and 2l,

'the housing portions I22 and 423 being upright so ast'o support the axle housings at an elevation to give ample clearance for the eld plants.

An op'erators station includes an operators seat 24 suitably supported adjacently to and over the axle housing E24-that is, to one side of the tractor bodyVV lil. 'I'he tractor steering wheel 25 is directly in front of the seat V274.' Y Y 'Y VCotton-picrz'ngr unit and support therefor This unit, which is placed at the right of f into the casing 21, this cotton will be withdrawn from the bolls. There are several vertically spaced rows of the spindles SP so that the cotton plants disposed within the passage will be operated upon throughout the height of the passage.

The spindles SP revolve in the direction indicated by the arrows AW, and upon arriving in registry with a group of vertically spaced doimg disks shown in dotted outline at D, the cotton is removed from the spindles by these disks and discharged into the casing 21. Subsequently, the spindles come in registry with vertically spaced moistening disks M where they are moistened prior to again being projected into the plant receiving passage. The casing 21, in addition to housing the picking spindle sets, the doffer disks and the moistening disks, also serves as an air receiving or suction chamber of a pneumatic system for the conduction of the picked cotton away from thev picker nger assemblies into a Vcropreceiving'receptacle 3|. Air is' drawn into the casing 21 through the openings at the plant passage where the picking fingers extend Youtwardly into said passage, andV this air laden with the cotton doffed from the spindles, leads upwardly through conduit legs 32 and 33 for ultimate delivery into the receptacle 3l. Doors 34 and 35 upon the outer side ofthe casing 21 pivot at their forward ends on supports (not shown) vabout axes Y doors.

spindles, the dong apparatus and the spindleY Y the passage 29.

which are coaxial with the lower ends of the conduit legs 32 and 33, and these doorshave short conduit necks 3e and 31 pivotable within the conduit legs to facilitate opening and closing of the Access isV thereby easily had to the picker moistening apparatus picking unit 26. k, That side of the plant receiving passage 29 opposite to the casing 21 is formed by plant pressing'plates 38, 39, and 4U which are yieldably held into the positionsillustrated so that they .may be displaced toward the tractor engine when pressed upon by a profuse plant growth occupying The pressure plate assembly 28 is supportedffrom the chamber 21 by a horizontal from thev outer side of the rod 4| at the upper forward end of the passager 29 and-by a'passage covering plate 42 at the rear end of the passage` in registry with the rear picker spindle assembly B.

wardlyof the assembly B. Cotton-picking aspassage. -While-in the passage and while rotating` about their individual axes, these spindles engage; andfcause the `cotton of ripened bolls to be wound thereabout so that upon retraction of the spindles In Figs. 2,-and 2a, the front portion of the plant receiving passage 29 can be seen to be covered by a detachable covering plate 43 having a horizontal portion 44 secured at its rear end to theplate 42 by a cap screw 45, an upwardly inclined-plant deilectingportion 46, and a rolled portion 41 at its forward end disposed about the rod 4| to whichit Vis secured by a cap screw 48.

Itis a characteristic ofthe cotton lplant for thebolls adjacentto the ground to ripen rst and for,v the bolls at the top of the plant to ripen or mature last. Since the bolls mature successively throughout a picking season of considerable 4duration, it is the practice withY cotton-picking machinery,as it has :always been in hand picking,

to pick the lield several times during the picking season. When picking the crop for. the first time, the' bolls at the top of the plant will usually be suiciently immature that it is unnecessary to cause the tops of the plants to be operated upon by both the front and back picker ngerassemblies, and with this in view, the deflector plate 43 in vertical registry'with the front assembly A, has been made easily detachable so that during this initial pickingthe tops of the plant may be a1- lowed to project above the spindles of the front picking assembly. This avoids all likelihood 4of any injury to the unripened bolls by the :front picking lingers. Such cotton that `is ready .for picking can be readily gathered by the rear linger assembly B.

.A further` advantageis gainedby operating `the machine with the passage cover plate 43 removed. This further advantage is gained partly `by the fore and aft alinement of the operators station 24 with the plant passage 29 so that an operator at the station 24 can'see through the uncovered po-rtion of the passage `adapted to be closed bythe plate 43 and. thereby observe the stalks of :the plants in the forward end ofthe passage as well as those about to enter the passage. This improved vision for the operator makes it much easier for him to properlyl steer the `apparatus with respect `to `the plant row. The throat tothe passage 29 is quite narrow, makingaccuratesteering essential.

Later inthe season `when the plants `have an abundance of `mature bolls at their tops, the plate 43 can be reassembled with vthe picking `unit so that the upper parts of the plants will be deflected thereby downwardly for operation upon `by the front group of `pickingngers as well-as the rear group thereof.

A plant lifting device .5l is attached to the forward end of the unit 26 for raising the lowermost stems of the plants off of the ground to a sulficient height for passing through the lower ones of the picking spindles SP. The device5l comprises backwardly inclinedV rods 52 having groundengaging runners `5?, vattached to their1 front ends.

Support for the crop gathering or picking unit 26 is provided by a crop gathering unit supportingmeans carried onthe tractor over a space forwardly of one axle housing and at one side of rthe tractor body. This supporting `means includes a frame 55 comprising a generally L-shaped frame member 56 having a fore and aft extending leg 51 and a laterally turned leg 58 having a juncture 59. A strut member l connects with the frame member 55 adjacently to the juncture 59 where the memberllil extends through an aperture (not shown) in the leg 51 ofthe frame member 56. A welded connection 62 is provided between `the members Gl .and 55. The rear part of the `leg 51 is supported upon the tractor axle housing l2 by a plate 83 (Figures l and 2) to which the member 51 Aissecured by any standardfmeans 53 in Fig. l. The bifurcated lower edge of the plate B3 straddles the outer end of the vaxle housing l2 Vand is secured to the depending gear housing 23 as shown in Figures l `andil. f A footing plate-64 `is welded or otherwise secured `to the free ends `of the members 58 and .61, and this plate '64 is adapted to be secured to the tractor `body lll lby means of cap screws B5 which are screwed into bosses or pads 65 and B1 provided upon said body l0.

vMeans for suspending the picking unit `from the frame 55 includes the outer end of thestrut 8| which passes `throughlthe frame leg 51 extends into and provides a bearing spindle yfor the hub 68 of a bell-crank 69, which has a pair of laterally spaced horizontal `arms 1I and 12 and an upright arm 13. The forward ends of the arms AIl and 12 mutually support the upper end of a linkage 14 `which is rigidly attached to the picking unit by cap-screws 14. By `pivoting the'bellcrank 69, the outer end `of lthe arms "H and 12 can be raised or lowered for changing thelelevation of the picking unit which is suspended therefrom throughwthe link 114. `Pivoting ofthe belli terparts 85 and 86 rotatively fixed thereto.

clutch spool 81 disposed between theclutchcoun- .Crank lt9 is effected `manually through a lever 15 having its lower end `attached to the hub of `the bell-crank andoperable overa quadrant `10, Fig. 2, for retaining a selected height of the picking unit. The upwardly projecting armlof the bellcrank is operated `upon by the counter-balancing spring assembly 16, which is adjustably connected to a bracket 11 on the back end of the frameleg 51 `by arthreadedlrod 18and a nut 19. `Since the counter-balancing spring 16 is connected to the frame .55 :through the bracket 11 and the bellcrank 69, which may be retained in a selected pivoted relation by the engagement of the lever 15 with the quadrant 18 irrespective of whether the picking `unit `2li is supported upon the forwardly projecting arms of the bell-crank, said counter-balancing spring can be assembled and disassembled from the tractor with the frame while the forwardly projecting arms ofthe bellcrank remain in a lowered or horizontal position which facilitates attachment and detachment of the picking unit.

Picker unit driving means Driving `force for `the .cotton-picking unit 26 `is obtained from a power take-off shaft Whichs rotated by any standard means (not shown) from the vehicle engine. The back end of theshafte projects into a casing 8| attachedto the back end of a differential housing 82 disposed Abetween the axle housings Il and l2; see Fig. 9. Two chain sprockets 83 and 84 are journaled upon that portion of the power take-off shaftin the casing 8|, and these chain sprockets have jawclutch counterparts 85 and 8E is splined to the shaft `811. The rear end portion of the spool l81 constitutes a clutch counterpart meshable with the counterpart 85, whereas the front end portion of the spool constitutes a clutch counterpart yrneshable with the counterpart 86. The details of this construction are shown in Fig. 10. Shifting of the spool is effected by'a shifter fork of conventional construction having bifurcation portions projecting into `the circumferential `groove of the spool. When the spool 181 is shifted rearwardly, the sprocket 83 will be clutched for rotation tothe power take-olf shaft 8B, and when the `spool 81 is shifted forwardly, the Sprocket 84 will be clutched to said shaft. The spool 81 is shown in a neutral position in which neither of the sprockets is `connected with said shaft. The housing 8| extends transversely of the tractor outwardly along the backside of the rear axle housing "l2, and the `outer part of the housing carries abearing 188 for a shaft 89. This `shaft has sprockets 9| and 92 .thereon `which are respectively connected with the sprockets 83 and `84 by chains 93 and 94. The drive to the picker unit is completed `throughauniversal .joint at the forward endof the shaft 89, a forwardly `projecting shaft 96, a universal joint .91 at the front of this shaft, and thence through suitable gearing (not shown) within a gear casing 9B supported upon thepicking `unit 26. The gearing in the casing `98 and the power connection `between this gearing and the spindles within the casing 25 are immaterial to this invention.

Fore and aft pendulous movement of thepicking `unit 2B about its support on `the arms 2l and 12 .is prevented by .a brace rod IDI pivotally connected at .H32 to a rear portion of the picking unit and .pivotally connected at its lrear end to a threaded rod AH13 adjustable within a bracket |34 connected to the depending "axle housing 'portion 23. Therfore and aft position of the rod |03 is determinable by nuts |35 and |35 upon either sideY of that part of the bracket |04 receiving the stem |03. In addition to lending stability to the picking unit, the brace rod IIlI can also determine the elevation of the front end of the picking unit by holding the unit in a selected 'pivoted relation about its support at the frhntv ends of the bell-crank arms 1I and 12. Sometimes it is desired to so supportV the picking unit'that its front end will be slightly higher in elevation than its rear end so the bottom of the unit can engage and skid over small hummocks and the like upon the earth surface.

Pneumatic `cotton-conocyz'ug system `A blower I I I supported at the left rear part of the tractor beneath the receptacle 3| constitutes arrelement of crop conveying' means for-conveying thecotton from the picking unit 2S into said receptacle. This blower, of which the details are shown in Figs. 6, '7, and 8, has a horizontal inlet ||2 which sucks air and cotton from the picking unit 26 through the conduit legs 32 and 33, Fig. l, thence through a conduit I|3 with which these legs 32 and 33 are confluent, and thence through acurved conduit I I4. Conduit l I3 extends rearwardly and upwardly over the right Vrear wheel of the tractor as well as over the rear axle housing structure I2, and the conduit IIII then connecting'with the conduit H3 at a flexible joint H5 extends transversely across the rear of the tractor to the horizontal fan inlet H2. The conduit ||3 also has a. flexible joint I IE which cooperates Vwith the joint I I5 in articulating the conduit system so that it facilitates vertical adjustment or movement ofthe picking unit.

The fan outlet III, Figs. 4 and '7, extends vertically for connection with an upwardly extending spout I|8`through which the air and cotton aredischarged into the upper part of the receptacle 3|.

l Referring now more particularly to'Figs. 6, 7,

and 8, the casing for the blower can be seen to comprise a generally cylindrical wall I |9` circumferentially about and radially spaced from a blade'd rotor |2I. A vestibule |22 of the blower is disposed between that part of the casing surrounded by the'cylindrical wall Ils and the inlet ||2. A circular opening |23' in the rear end wall |24 of the main part of the casing within the cylindrical wall IISI provides communication between thevestibule and the main part of the casing:

The rotor |2| is fixed for rotation with a'shaft |25 rotatable'within a bearing |26 carried within the front wall |2' of the casing. This rotor comprises siX impeller blades |28 secured to and eX- tending radially from the shaft |25. Theseblades are secured at their front edges tol an end' plate `|29 which assists in maintaining themin their e'qualr angular radiating relation. A circular wire rod |`3| passes through rearward portions of the blades near their outer ends, and this member assists the plate. |29 in maintaining the blades in the desired formation. The circular rod |3| als'o provides'a support for radiating elements |32 of Y a fan guard assembly |33. Said elements |32 are folded into shape from elongated strips of sheet metal, elongated center sections of the strips forming spaced segments |34 of the conical guard assembly, while opposite edge portions of the strips from which these members |32 lare formed are carried together and are perforated for receivi'ng the rod I3 I; 4see Fig. 8. Each ofthe blades I28'is supplied with a pair of channel members |35 with the shorter legs of these channel members turned i`n opposite directions, as illustrated in Fig. 8, to complementally form a surface corresponding to the segmental surfaces |34 of the elements |32. The entire assembly is conical with the radiating slots |36 between the radial elements |32. The elements |32 are held against an enlarged rear end portion of the shaft |25 by a Vcap |31, Fig. 6, and a cap screw |38 turned into the back end of said shaft.

In the operation of the blower, the rotating rotor discharges air centrifugally against the cylindrical wall I I9, the rotation of the fan being counter-clockwise as viewed from the rear in Fig. '7 so that this discharged air is impelled tangentially upwardly from the casing through the vertical outlet II'I. VThe air thus discharged from the space between the fan blades |28 is replaced by air forced'by the atmosphere inwardly through the cotton-picker unit casing 21, where the spindles project into the passage 23. The casing 21 therefore serves as an air chamber, and the cotton picked by the spindles and carried intothis chamber where it is doffed by the doilmg mechanism D is carried upwardly by the air conduit legs 32 and 33. The air thusforced into the casing and air chamber 2'I of the picking unit, laden with the picked cotton, after passing up into the legs 32 and 33 passes backwardly into the conduit I|3 and thence through the conduit H4 into the blower inlet. Inlet I|2 is 'arranged transversely of the axis of the rotor |2| whereby the inertia of the cotton has a tendency to cause this cotton to impinge against a deector wall H2a and thence to move radially of the rotor and conical guard, through the opening |23 in the rear wall of the main part Vof the casing, and thence onto the cylindrical Wall IIS without engaging or being struck by the fan blades and without striking the guard member or assembly other than with a glancing impact. There can beno striking of the seed cotton being picked by the fan blades |28, since the radial slots |36 in the guard assembly are too narrow for permitting cotton to enter these slots although the air entering the blower does pass through these slots into the space between the fan 'blades from where it is centrifugally ejected.

It is important that the seeds in the picked cotton shall not be broken or cracked by the fan blades. The seeds which are only partly broken by being cracked will lose some of their oil which discolors the cotton and thereby lowers its grade and selling price. Cracked seeds because of this loss ofv oil are also less'valuable to cotton-seedY processing mills since their yield of oil will be less. By employing the guard assembly |33, as herein illustrated, and by'introdu'cing the seed cotton into the vestibule |22 of the fan casing transversely of the 'rotor axis and angularly to'encountered surfaces of said guard assembly, the cotton seeds are handled sufliciently gently to avoid breakage. i

It has been found that by making the'conic'al guard member or assembly I 33 with the radiating slots |36, the guard member will avoid accumulating cotton fibers and lint. It can be observed in Fig. 7 that the radiating slotsV |36 `increase in Widthfrom'the center to the outerV perimeter of the guard member which is a factor further increasing `the diiculty with which ber or lint particles could cling to the'sides of the radiating slots |36. There 'must be noaccumulation'o'f of steel, and which bands depend from vthe rectangular frame member |56 bounding'the upper edge or brim of the basket. These outer and inner walls |69 and |1| and the intermediate bottom wall portion |1|F- are formed with a sectional contour transversely of the tractor that is somewhat parabolic in form. The piece of smooth solid metal sheeting forms the wall |69 Vwhile the bottom wall |1|SL and the inner wall |1|are formed of wire mesh similarly to the end walls |81 and |68. Y

Opposite end plates |14 (of which one is shown in Fig. 4) are rigidly secured to and depend from thel frame member |66 at the upper outer vportions of the basket, and these end plates are journaled upon opposite ends of a rod |15 carried in the Standard uprights IBI and |62. This pivotal connection between the basket and the upper ends of the standard members |6| and |62 normally supports the basket in the position illustrated in Fig. 4 on the inner side of the standu ard and over the supporting base for such standard, with a bottom portion of such receptacle resting upon the footing braces |60 for said standard members, while permitting the basket to be pivoted counter-clockwise from the Fig. 4

Y position to av dumping position illustrated in Fig. 5.

Dumping of the receptacle is brought about by a Vhydraulic ram or motor 4|11 comprising a cylinder |18 having its lower end pivotally connected to a channel cross-piece |19 anchored to the lower ends of the standard uprights |6| and |62 and a piston rod |8| pivotally connected with the outer wall of the receptacle by means of a pin |82 anchored within a pair of fore and aft reenforcing plates |83, which are secured to the outer wall of the basket. When uid is introduced into the lower end of the cylinder |18, a piston therein (not shown) will be forced upwardly and thereby will force the piston rod |8| upwardly for pivoting the basket into the dumping position. Normally relaxed helical springs |84 (one being shown in Figs. 4 and 5) respectively connected between the standards IBI and y|62 land the basket, become distended when the receptacle appro-aches a poised position and continue to be distended when the basket reaches vthe over-center dumping position illustrated in Fig. 5, whereby these springs cause the receptacle to pivot clockwise from the Fig. dumping position toward the filling position of Fig. 4 when fluid is allowed to escape from the lower end of the motorV cylinder |18. These springs continue to act upon the receptacle after ithas passed the overcenter position when returning to the filling position so as to accelerate the return of the basket and thereby minimize the time required for dumping.

Fluid for operating the dumping motor |11 is obtained from a gear pump comprising a casing |85, Figs. 4 and 9, secured onto the back end of the housing 8| and driven by the back end of the shaft 80 extending through the differential housing 82 of the tractor. Oil is pumped by the f pump |85 from the bottom of the casing 8| which also serves as a reservoir. This oil as it is discharged from the pump is controlled by a valve |86 having a `manually operable control lever |81. When the lever |81 is in the upright position illustrated in Figs. 4 and 9, the pump discharge is directed through the valve |86 back to the reservoir or sump in the casing 8|. When the control lever |81 is pivoted counter-clockwise, as viewed from the rear, the output of oil from the pump |85 is directed into the lower end of the motor |18 through an outlet coupling |88 and a hose (not shown). After the receptacle has been raised, the lever |81 will be 'moved clockwise back to its upright position where the valve will permit the pump |85-to by-pass but will prevent exhaust of uid from the motor Vso that the re- Y of the receptacle to pivot about hinges |89 connecting the inner edge of this cover member with the basket brim, when the receptacle is pivoted to the dumping position. When so pivoted, the cover member is opened with respect to the basket so that the cotton is readily dumpable from the basket into a wagon box, or the like, which may be driven up alongside of the machine. The linkage for opening the cover |5| includes double-legged brackets |9| secured to opposite ends of the cover member and links |92 respectively pivotally attached to ears |93 on these brackets |9| and having a sliding connection with respective pins |94 pivotally anchored in arms |95 which are xed to opposite ends of the non-rotatable rod |15. These links |92 have heads |96 on their outer ends for abutment with the pivotal pins |94, as illustrated in Fig. 5, prior to the receptacle reaching the dumping position. Continued counter-clockwise movement of the receptacle, as viewed in Fig. 5,'shortly prior Yto reaching the dumping position and after the links |92 can move no farther upwardly, will cause the links to pull downwardly on the ears |93 and the brackets |9| for causing the cover member to pivot about the pivot pins of its hinges |89 into the opened position. When the receptacleis returned toward the filling position, the links |92 will slide downwardly into theV holes therefor in the pins |94, permitting the cover to close uponY the top of the receptacle by the force of gravity.` Y 1 The cover |5| for the basket part of the receptacle 3| is arched .between its inner edge (disposed adjacently to the upper end of the spout I8) and its outer or opposite edge and is constructed of debris-impervious sheets |91 and |98 upon opposite sides Yof the opening |52 formed between these sheets. An arched grille |54 covers this opening, said grille being composed Lof a plurality of units |59|99 each consisting of a transverse member |99 having transversely spaced longitudinal elements |55 extending therefrom.v The elements |55 extend from Veach of their associated transverse members |99 Vtoward the outer wall of'the receptacle, the wall disposed at the left side Yof the receptacle in Fig. 4, the free ends of each groupof elements |55 extending adjacently to and slightly beneath the transverse element |99 of the unit next adjacent thereto in a direction toward the outer'V vbers |99'has a faceted head 203, and the opposite end of each rod is'threaded to receivea nut 204. The rightmost grid unit|55|99 in Fig. 4 has4 als-isgod its transverse member' I 99* disposed at the; lower endof ahooded portionofthe grille whichprojects outwardly from the inner edge of thebasket, and the spaced grid elements" l'fprojecting from this particular transverse member are curved as illustrated in Figs; 4 and 5; This hooded portion of the grille thus provides a downwardly facing inlet opening for the receptacleB-I; such inlet'opening being on theside ofthe receptacle disposedinwardly` of thetractor (the right" side as" viewed in Fig. il and being communicative with the upper endof4 the spoutf ll8, Fig. 4.

Cotton-laden air' entering the' hooded portion of the grille 45tVV `first strikes the curved elements |55 of the grid element unit over the top' of the hood. It is at this' point that most of the trash is separated from the cotton along with part of the air from" the conveying air stream; This part ofthe air and trash is carried outwardly from the receptacle between the grille elements [55, wniletne" cotton is deflected" across the top of the receptacle along the under surfaces of the grille units. Dining this traversal by the thin layer of cotton across the upper sideof the receptacle, part of the air continues to be dissipated through the grille and to carry pieces of foreign material therewith. Particularly because ofthe momentum ofithecotton and because of the air movement across the top of the receptacle, the cotton isf caused to be carried to a position adjacently to theA upperedge of the outer receptacle wall. ThisY cotton then drops into the lower part of the receptacle but rst fills the receptaclewithinthe bottom and along the outer wall, and as the filling process continues, the surface of repose of the cotton will gradually approach thefinner upper part'ofthe receptacle, which part is the last to. be filled, whereby the receptacle becomes completely filled.V without attention of the operator.

There are several factors which' improve the dumping ability of the receptacle. One of these featuresis the arrangementof the longitudinal grille elements 554 so that. their free ends are projected away from vthe hingededge of the cover member I5-i so that' anyu cotton falling from the receptacle against the under side of the grille during the dumping operation l will have no tendencyv tooling to the grille. In other words, the top or cover member of? the receptacle itself dumps any cotton thatmay be therein due to the receptacle being filled to an extent that the cotton is heaped therein or falls against the under side of the grille when the receptacle is dumped. v

Anotnerfeature thatfacilitates"dumping is the parabolic4 transverse section through the inner and outer walls and the bottom wall. Because of this curved contour of these walls of the receptacle, the cotton which first falls away from the upper part of the inner wall as the dumping of the cotton actually commences, tends to pull other cotton with it so that there is a progressive rolling away of the cotton from the inner wall (upper when the receptacle is in the dumping position) toward the bottom of said `wall and the bottom of the receptacle.

Another feature which improves the dumping characteristics of the receptacle is the use of a smooth sheet in forming the receptacle outer wall 559. Any cotton resting upon this sheet will more readily slide from the receptacle while the latter is in the dumping position. The receptacle is made as light in weight as possible,

14 however, by employing the mesh-woven wire side walls for the most part.

While the center part of the cover member` is formed with an opening covered by the grille |54,`

the ends lil'll andY l98 of the cover member atthe sides of the opening are made of material such as sheet metal through whichthe dust anddirt and small stems discharged with the air blast through the grille cannot pass through for return back into the receptacle subsequent to discharge through the grille. During operation of the ma. chine, these particles of debris can be seen to gravitate toward the edges of the dome-shaped cover member and to fall away in the atmosphere where they are sometimes swept away by wind; In earlier machines where the top of the receptacle was made perfectly nat, there was such an accumulation of foreign particles upon the top about the air-blast discharge opening that before dumping the cotton it wasnecessaryf'for the operator to employ a broom for sweeping these particles away from the top so they would not be dumped with the cotton into the vehicle for conveying the cotton from the field.

Having thus disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention, we claim:

l. In cotton harvesting apparatus for use upon a tractor including a narrow body projecting forwardly from laterally projecting rear axle housings and including a cotton pickerv unit" for disposition forwardly of one of such housings adjacently to a side of the tractorv body; a picker unit supporting structure comprising a generally L-shaped frame member havinga` transverse leg and a fore and aft leg for attachment of free end portionsY thereof respectively to said side of the tractor body at a position forwardly of said axle housing and to said axle housing outV` wardly from said body, a strut member secured to the frame member adjacently'to the junction of its legs and presenting an end portion for connection with thetractor body, a bell-crank lever having upright and horizontal'-legs pivotally supported-bysaid frame member, the horizontalleg being for the support of the picker unit, a `picker unit counterbalance spring connected between the upright belli-crank leg and a rear portion of the fore and aft fraine leg, and means on saidV supporting structure for pivoting the bell-crank and maintaining its pivotedposition to determine the elevation of the picker unit.

2. In cotton harvesting apparatus for use upon a tractor including a narrow body projecting forwardly from laterally projectingrear axle: housings and including a cotton picker-unit for disposition forwardly ofV one of such housings `adjacently to a side of the tractor body; a picker unit supporting structure comprising a generally L-shaped frame member having a transverse leg and a fore and aft leg, a strut member secured to the frame member adjacently to the junction of its legs and projecting in the same general direction as the transverse leg with reference to the fore and aft leg, a footing plate secured to the free ends of said strut and of said transverse leg, said footing plate being for attachment to said side of the tractor body forwardly of said axle housing and a free end portion of the fore and aft frame leg being for attachment to said axle housing at a portion spaced outwardly from the tractor body, a lever having a horizontal leg pivotally supported by the frame member, said lever being for the support of the picker unit to change its elevation when pvoted, and means on Y a narrow body with an engine-driven powertakeoifshaft at its front and traction wheel axles VextendingV laterally oppositely at its rear, a cotton vreceptacle `disposed in an elevated po sitionsubstantially over one of said axles, andl a pneumatic cotton transferring system comprisingl'acottonpropelling blower mounted on the tractor'b'eneathsaid receptacle, said blowerin-1 cluding'arotor casing having inlet and discharge passages of whichthe former leads horizontally intofthe casing and the latter is directed upwardiy, anda rotorin said casing rotatable about an axis ari'angedffore and' aft of the tractor to induce air ,and cotton into said casing through the vinlet passage and tov discharge the same tlirough"w4 said outlet passage, a drive shaft drivn ingly connected with the rotor and projecting coaxially thereof and forwardly therefrom alonglsid'e'of the tractor body, drive means for said shaft extending transversely of the tractor between ay forward part `of said shaft and said powerftalre-off shaft, and a discharge conduit directed upwardly from kthe blower discharge passage into positionnfor directing the Vcotton therefrom into an upper part of said receptacle. 4.*In a cotton picking apparatus; a tractor having a narrow bodyV with an engine-driven power-take-off shaft at its front and traction wheel axles extending laterally oppositely at its rear; a cotton picking unit; meansI for attaching said unit to the tractor body adjacently to a side thereof and forwardly of the axle at such side; a cotton receptacle; means for mounting said receptacle upon the tractor in an elevated position at the other side adjacently to the other axle; and a pneumatic cotton transferring system which includes an air and cotton convey--V ing conduit extending communicatively from the picking unit rearwardly over the axle at the one side of the tractor and laterally of the tractor rearwardly of said axles; and means for changing the course of the cotton as it discharges from the laterally extending portion of said conduit upwardly into the receptacle, comprising a blower disposed rearwardly'of said other axle, said blower having a horizontal inlet disposed in communication with said conduit portion and an upwardly extending outlet and including a rotor rotatable about an axis arranged fore and aft of the tractor to induceV air and cotton from said conduit into said inlet and to discharge such air and cotton through the outlet, a discharge conduit projecting upwardly from the blower outlet into position for discharging into an upper part of the receptacle, Jand means for driving the blower rotor including aV rotor drive shaft connected with theV rotor and projecting forwardly therefrom along the other side of the tractor body, and drive means for said shaft eX- tending transversely of the tractor between a forward part of said shaft and said power takeo shaft. Y

5. In a cotton picking apparatus; a tractor having a narrow body with engine-driven traction wheel axles extending laterally oppositely at its rear; a cotton picking unit; means for attaching said unit to the tractor body adjacently to a side thereof and forwardly of the axle at such side; a cotton receptacle; means for mounting said receptacle upon the tractor in an elevated position rearwardly of said axles; and a pneumatic cotton transferring system which includes an air and cotton'conveying conduit extending communicatively from the picking unit rearwardly over the axleat the one side of the tractor and having a portion extending laterally of the tractor rearwardly of said axles; and means for changing the course of the cotton upwardly into the receptacle as it discharges from said laterally extending portion of the conduit, comprising a blower disposed rearwardly of said axles, said blower having a horizontal inlet communicative withy said conduit portion and an upwardly extending outlet, a discharge conduit' projecting upwardly from said blower outlet into position for discharging into an upper part of the receptaole, and means for driving the blower from the tractor engine.

' CLARENCE R. HAGEN.

LOUIS E. NICKLA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 'lle of this patent:

UNITED sTAT'Es PATENTS Number Name Y Date l 194,854 Van Dorn Sept. 4, 1877 608,689 Lee Aug. 9, 1898 671,402 Schuman Apr. 2, 1901 V830,443 Le Vin Sept. 4, 1906 891,191 Shinn June 16, 1908 V1,123,627() Straus Jan. 5, 1915 1,887,831 Willett Nov. 5, 1932 V1,894,198 Rust et al Jan. 10, 1933 2,023,491 Rust et al. Dec. 10, 1935 I2,058,514 Rust et al. Oct. 27, 1936 2,082,053 Freudenberg June 1, 1937 42,214,818 Johnston Sept. 17, 1940 2,234,599 Johnston Mar. 11, 1941 2,852,291 YScarratt et al June 27, 1944 42,399,718 Baker et al. May 7, 1946 

